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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

There are some exciting programs on the UCLA schedule for the first quarter of 2014, including an extensive Anthony Mann series beginning January 31st.

I'll have more details on the Mann series in January. First up, though, is an 11-film series titled "Columbia in the 1930s: Recent Restorations." With one exception, the series is comprised entirely of films from the pre-Code era.

The series opens this Friday evening, January 3rd, with LET US LIVE (1937) starring Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Sullivan. The double bill also includes EAST OF FIFTH AVENUE (1933) with Wallace Ford.

January 4th features two Lee Tracy films, THE NIGHT MAYOR (1932) and WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND (1932).

Coming on January 6th: Pat O'Brien and Mae Clarke in THE FINAL EDITION (1932) paired with Edmund Lowe, Evelyn Brent, and Constance Cummings in ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENSE (1932).

A single film will be shown on January 12th: Barbara Stanwyck in Frank Capra's THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN (1932).

January 17th the titles are THE CRIMINAL CODE (1931) with Walter Huston and BY WHOSE HAND? (1932) starring Ben Lyon.

The series wraps up in mid-February with a Valentine's Day screening of MEN IN HER LIFE (1931) starring Lois Moran and Charles Bickford, playing with LOVER COME BACK (1931), starring Constance Cummings.

All films in the Columbia series will be shown in 35mm.

There's also a series of films featuring Mexican actor Arturo de Cordova which begins at UCLA on January 10th. On January 11th I hope to see Joan Fontaine starring with de Cordova in FRENCHMAN'S CREEK (1944), which I missed when it was shown as part of the Mitchell Leisen series in the fall of 2012. The chance to see a 35mm film starring Fontaine, less than a month after her recent passing, is of course especially welcome.

FRENCHMAN'S CREEK will be shown with a 16mm print of ADVENTURES OF CASANOVA (1948), costarring Lucille Bremer. Bremer, best known for MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944) and YOLANDA AND THE THIEF (1945), is a favorite of mine and only appeared in a handful of films, so this screening is a wonderful opportunity.